About Us

Bylaws

1. NAME:
   The name of the Association shall be the Vulcan Riders Association hereafter referred to as the Association. The Association shall also be known as the VRA. The name of the Chapter shall be known as the South Central Pennsylvania Chapter, hereafter referred to as SCPA VRA.
2. PURPOSE:
   The purpose of the Association is to promote responsible motorcycling activities for its members by conducting chapter activities and encouraging the participation of its members in these activities whilst maintaining a family-oriented atmosphere.
3. DEFINITIONS:
   
   

   Office Bearer - the incumbent President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
   
   Executive Committee - the Office Bearers as elected by the general membership of the Chapter.
   
   Appointed Officers - the incumbent Road Captain, Sergeant at Arms, and other appointed officers as may be deemed necessary
   
   General Committee - The elected Office Bearers plus appointed officers.

4. MEMBERSHIP:
   Requirement for SCPA VRA membership is a legal, running Kawasaki Vulcan of any size. All members must have insurance and licensing for said Vulcan as required by their locale.
5. CHARTER MEMBER:
   The founding members of the chapter that join before 28 February 2003. 1 March 2003 forward, all new members will be Regular Members. The Chapter will issue a VRA patch recognizing "Charter" members.
6. DUES:
   Members must pay $24.00 annually to be allowed Membership in the SCPA VRA Chapter. Payment shall be due 1 January each year. The dues will cover: VRA patch, website costs, newsletter production & distribution and a picnic.
7. CHAPTERS:
   1. CHAPTER NAME AND AFFILIATION:
      The Vulcan Riders Association is the governing body of all VRA sanctioned activities. Each local chapter, however, will operate as an independent organization providing services to their chapter members on a "not-for-profit" basis. Each chapter is required to adhere to this charter and all operational policies as well as local laws. Where the Association Charter and local laws conflict, local law will always prevail. The affiliated chapter will be named after its respective city or locale. The Association reserves the right to approve chapter names. If at any time the Association determines that a chapter is not adhering to this charter or the spirit of this charter, the chapter affiliation may be rescinded.
   2. SCPA VRA CHAPTER OFFICERS AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
      The Association requires all chapters to have the following primary officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. No member may fill more than one of these positions simultaneously. Other Officers may be appointed as needed. An appointed officer may simultaneously hold a position as an elected primary officer.
      1. ELECTED OFFICERS:
         
         

         President - The President shall be the nominal head of the Chapter. The President is to chair all meetings. The President or the President's nominee shall represent the SCPA VRA Chapter at all functions and public events.
         
         Vice President - The Vice President shall generally assist the President and assume the duties of President in the President's absence.
         
         Secretary - The Secretary shall convene all meetings and be responsible for the minutes of their proceedings. The Secretary shall circulate copies of the minutes of meetings to other bodies as directed by the Executive Committee. The Secretary or the Secretary's delegate shall be a member of all sub-committees. The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the SCPA VRA and maintain contact with all affiliated bodies and inform the SCPA VRA of matters related to them. The Secretary shall keep control of all records and other documents relating to the SCPA VRA Chapter.
         
         Treasurer - The Treasurer shall keep account of the finances and assets of the SCPA VRA Chapter. Treasurer to provide a financial report for each General Meeting and the Secretary will include the report in the meeting minutes. All financial matters must be referred to the Treasurer.

      2. APPOINTED OFFICERS (To be appointed as necessary):
         
         

         Sergeant At Arms - Maintains order at SCPA VRA Chapter meetings and activities. Assists Road Captain at activities and runs. Rides at rear of pack on runs, or designates someone to ride at rear on runs.
         
         Road Captain - Ensures all riders and rides are legal before all runs. Is responsible for planning routes for all planned runs. Leads all runs or designates someone to lead the runs.
         
         Other Officers - appointed as necessary by the SCPA VRA Chapter to perform functions deemed by the Chapter.

   3. ELECTION OF CHAPTER OFFICE BEARERS:
      The Office Bearers of a Chapter shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations shall be made in writing to the Secretary and signed by two members with Full Membership rights, accompanied by written consent from the nominated person. Persons nominating or being nominated must have Full Membership rights. Voting for the election of Office Bearers shall be by secret ballot by members with Full Membership rights. Voting shall take place only if there are two or more nominations for a position. The term of office shall be from the conclusion of the meeting at which they were elected, until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting. A person is not eligible to simultaneously hold more than 1 (one) Office Bearer position.
   4. VACANCIES IN CHAPTER COMMITTEE:
      A vacancy in the office of a committee member occurs if the member:
      dies, ceases to be a member of the SCPA VRA Chapter, resigns from office,
      is absent from three consecutive Executive Committee Meetings without reasonable excuse. Casual vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled by majority vote at a General Meeting.
   5. REMOVAL OF CHAPTER OFFICE BEARERS:
      The chapter may, in a General Meeting, by resolution, remove any office bearer from the Executive Committee, before the expiration of the member's term of office.
   6. CHAPTER MEETINGS:
      1. The Annual General Meeting:
         The Annual General Meeting shall immediately follow the General Meeting. In addition to any other business, the business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
         1. Confirm the minutes of the last preceding Annual General Meeting;
         2. Receive from the Executive Committee reports on the activities of the Association during the preceding year
         3. Elect members of the Executive Committee
         4. Receive and consider the audited statement of accounts and any other reports required to be submitted to members
      2. Regular Meetings:
         General Meetings shall be held at 7-8PM on the 1^st Thursday of the month at a location approved at the preceding General Meeting.
      3. Executive Committee Meetings:
         Executive Committee Meetings shall be held bimonthly, from 8-9 PM after the General Meeting.
      4. Special Meetings:
         1. A Special General Meeting may be called by a request made in writing to the Executive Committee signed by at least ten full members, stating the purpose of the meeting.
         2. A Special Executive Committee Meeting may be called by a request made in writing to the Secretary, signed by at least three General Committee members stating the purpose of the meeting.
         3. Upon receipt of such requests the Secretary shall within seven days convene a meeting for a date not more than twenty-one days after receipt of the request.
   7. ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
      No item of business shall be transacted at a General Meeting, Special General Meeting or Annual General Meeting, unless a quorum of members entitled to vote is present during the time the meeting is considering that item.
   8. ADJOURNMENTS:
      An unfinished item of business at a General Meeting may be adjourned to a Special General Meeting or to the next General Meeting, subject to the consent of the majority of members present at the meeting.
   9. QUORUM:
      A quorum for a General Meeting, Special General Meeting or Annual General Meeting shall be two Office Bearers and a minimum of one chapter member. If a quorum is not present within thirty minutes of the appointed time for a meeting, that meeting shall not proceed.
   10. VOTING:
       Issues shall be decided by a majority vote, this majority being determined by a show of hands from those entitled to vote. Any Full Member can demand a secret ballot on any vote taken at a meeting. Any person with Full Membership rights but unable to be present may communicate their vote in writing to an Office Bearer prior to commencement of the meeting. Any member with Full Membership rights, but unable to be present may appoint another Full Member to act as their proxy. Notice of this is to be given in writing to an Office Bearer prior to commencement of the meeting.
   11. CHAPTER FINANCES:
       The funds of the chapter shall be derived from annual subscriptions of members, sales of stock, donations and any such other source as the Executive committee determines, subject to confirmation by majority vote at a General Meeting. The funds of the SCPA VRA Chapter shall be banked in the name of the chapter in a financial institution decided upon by the Executive Committee. Any two Office Bearers shall sign checks or withdrawals. All income of the SCPA VRA Chapter shall be used to fund its activities and further its aims. No money may be paid to any member as remuneration but compensation shall be given for authorized expenses.
   12. CHAPTER SPONSORSHIP:
       Chapters may seek sponsorship from a local Vulcan dealer. Chapter sponsorship may take the form of financial sponsorship of the chapter and/or chapter events, and discounts to chapter members on purchases or other sponsorship arrangements. In return, the sponsoring dealer is entitled to on-sell membership to the chapter with the sale of Vulcan motorcycles, and may display Association logos and symbols in the sponsor's business premises and at legitimate trade shows. The sponsor is also entitled to display and demonstrate products at official chapter rallies.
   13. CHAPTER DISSOLUTION:
       If the chapter is dissolved for any reason, the assets and properties remaining after the settlement of all just debts shall not be disbursed to members but shall be given to bodies with similar aims to the Association and/or to a recognized charity. The recipient organization is to be determined by resolution of the members of the Association at or before the time of the dissolution.
8. ASSOCIATION FINANCES:
   The Association shall derive funds from the annual chapter registration fees, sales of merchandise, sales of stock, donations and any other source as the Association Executive Committee determines. Funds shall be banked in the name of the Association. All income of the Association shall be used to fund activities and to further its aims. No money shall be paid to any member as remuneration but compensation shall be given for authorized expenses.
9. ASSOCIATION DISSOLUTION:
   If the Association is dissolved for any reason, the assets and properties remaining after the settlement of all just debts shall not be disbursed to members but shall be given to bodies with similar aims to the Association and/or to a recognized charity. The recipient organization is to be determined by resolution of the members of the Association at or before the time of the dissolution.
10. LOGOS AND SYMBOLS:
    All Association logos are copyrighted and the copyright rests with the Association Executive Committee. The right to use copyrighted logos and symbols is extended to chapters upon receipt of an annual chapter registration fee. Use of logos and symbols by any other third party requires permission from the Association Executive Committee.
11. AMENDMENTS:
    These by-laws may be amended as needed by a majority vote of the Association Executive Committee.